BILLS ON THE SECOND READING.
Mr. Johnson of Spencer's bill, (S. 4) authorizing the Superintendent of Public Instruction to adopt a uniform system of book keeping for township trustees, coming up in order, it was read the second time.
Mr. GIFFORD said the committee could see no necessity for this bill, and he moved it be indefinitely postponed.
Mr. JOHNSON of Spencer. Mr. President: The bill before this body proposes that the Superintendent of Public Instruction should adopt some uniform system of book keeping for township trustees. Both State and county officers, generally have a uniform system of book keeping. Our township trustees are men usually not very well skilled in book keeping, and almost every one of those officers have a mode of their own, and in many cases it is very imperfect I assure you. But few trustees know how much their township is in debt, and how much will be required to pay the current expenses during the year. They simply lay about the same tax for school and road purposes which was levied by the former trustees, and thus they continue. They then pay township orders as long as their money lasts, and when their term of office is ended, their successors have but a faint idea of the real standing of the township financially.
Mr. BRADLEY, opposed, and--
Mr. GREEN favored the passage of the bill.
Mr. GIFFORD said Franklin county has a uniform system of keeping books. There could be no improvement over the everywhere recognized system of book keeping, and no complaint was made of the township trustees.
Mr. SMITH said, in reply to a question of the cost, that in Huntington county they cost forty dollars a township.The motion to indefinitely postpone was agreed to, by yeas 30, nays 8.
Mr. Caven's bill, (S. 47) to enable cities to aid in the construction of railroads, coming up in order, it was read the second time.
Mr. CARSON and Mr. FISHER stated objections to the bill.
Mr. GREEN explained that the bill only changed the law by allowing cities to subscribe in aid of a road leading into the main road passing through or coming into a city.
On motion by Mr. ROBINSON of Madison, the bill was laid on the table.
Mr. Kinley's bill, (S. 50) providing for collecting of forfeited recognizances, was read the second time and ordered engrossed for the third reading.
Mr. Wolcott's bill, (S. 64) authorizing voluntary associations formed under an act approved February 12, 1855, to acquire title to lands heretofore used as burial places, coming up, a committee amendment thereto was read and agreed to. The bill was then ordered to be engrossed, it having heretofore been read the second time.
Mr. Caven's bill, (S. 65) to regulate the publication of legal advertisements, coming up, the committees amendments thereto were read. The bill was then read the second time.
Mr. CHURCH objected to legal advertisements being inserted in a daily once a week, as proposed by the bill, instead of in a weekly paper, as now provided.
Mr. STEIN argued that one publication in a daily was worth far more to the parties interested than a publication in a weekly paper.
Mr. FOSDICK thought if the plan were adopted the bill should designate a certain day on which the advertisements should be published.
Mr. HUGHES said all dailies issued weekly editions, and thought the change inexpedient.
Mr. FISHER reminded the Senate that the weekly editions were sent to the country, while the dailies are circulated in the counties where printed. This bill, if properly guarded, could be made to work as well.
On motion by Mr. HUMPHREYS the bill was indefinitely postponed.
The House concurrent resolution proposing that both Houses attend the remains of Gen. Geo. R. Wagner to the Union depot at ten and a half o'clock to-morrow, was taken up and concurred in by the Senate.
And then the Senate adjourned till two o'clock p. m., to-morrow.
